US5403453A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for glow discharge plasma treatment of polymer materials at atmospheric pressure
Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation
•
Filing: 1993-10-29
•
Granted: 1995-04-04
•
Expires: 2013-10-29
Abstract
Abstract Polymer materials such as film and fabrics, woven, non-woven and meltblown, may be non-destructively surface treated to improve water wettability, wickability, and other characteristics by exposure to a glow discharge plasma sustained at substantially atmospheric pressure in air or modified gas atmospheres comprising helium or argon.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Roth
- 👤 Peter P. Tsai
- 👤 Larry C. Wadsworth
- 👤 Chaoya Liu
- 👤 Paul D. Spence
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:58
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/14; B64; B64C; B64C23/00; B64C23/005; D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; D04H1/56; H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/32009; H01J37/32082; H01J37/32174; H01J37/32431; H01J37/32733; H01J37/32752; H01J37/32761; H01J37/3277; H05; H05B; H05B7/00; H05B7/16; A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/44; B29C2059/145; B29K; B29K2023/00; B29K2023/10; B29K2023/12; H01J2237/00; H01J2237/32; H01J2237/33; H01J2237/336
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for improving the surface characteristics of a web comprising the steps of generating in a gas maintained at about atmospheric pressure a sustained, uniform glow discharge plasma having active species between a pair of spaced electrodes, wherein said generating step includes energizing said electrodes at a voltage of at least about 1 kV rms at frequencies of about 1 to 100 kHz, and positioning said web between said electrodes and within said plasma for a period of time and pressure differentially driving the active species through said web.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for improving the surface characteristics of a web comprising the steps of generating in a gas maintained at about atmospheric pressure a sustained, uniform glow discharge plasma having active species between a pair of spaced electrodes, wherein said generating step includes energizing said electrodes at a voltage of at least about 1 kV rms at frequencies of about 1 to 100 kHz, and positioning said web between said electrodes and within said plasma for a period of time and pressure differentially driving the active species through said web.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as described by claim 1 wherein a volume defined by the space between said electrodes is charged with said gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is helium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is a mixture of helium and air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is argon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is a mixture of argon and air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is a mixture of argon and helium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is atmospheric air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is nitrous oxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said voltage is in the range of about 1 kV to 5 kV rms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said voltage is in the range of about 1.5 kv to 9.5 kV
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said gas is a noble gas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-03 | 1998-10-03 | 1999-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-10-03 | 2003-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-03 | 2006-10-03 | 2007-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |